Thanks to two former West Ham United players, 16-year old Wolves star John Barry Nusum has landed a four-year athletic scholarship at the University of Portland.

Clyde Best, now Bermuda's director of coaching, had his former team-mate, Clive Charles, fly to the Island on the weekend to look at Nusum and a few other prospects, interrupting his busy schedule.

Charles is not only head coach of the school's men's and women's soccer teams but also assistant coach of the United States World Cup squad.

While the comparatively small Oregon college doesn't offer full scholarships, Best said it would pay a substantial proportion of Nusum's education.

"They only give out nine scholarships a year and it's great to have one of our own players on the receiving end. They are among the top three soccer schools in the country,'' said Best, who played for the Portland Timbers of the now defunct North American Soccer League after leaving West Ham in the mid-1970s.

According to Best, he and Charles often talked about meeting in Bermuda to evaluate talent.

"The reason I would like him to have my players is because I know they will be in good hands both academically and athletically, and I know that when they come out, soccer-wise they will know what it takes to play good soccer.

"He (Charles) is a good person. We played together with West Ham's youth team, we lived together and I know he is going to treat the boys he gets from us fairly. He would be like a father figure and he is going to turn out some good people,'' added Best.

Charles also looked at Nusum's team-mate at Wolves, centre-back Joey Rego, during the team's 3-0 win over Social Club and Damon Ming, a forward with Dandy Town, but nothing has been confirmed with either to date.

Best wanted Charles to look at Nusum because of his versatility. The big youngster can play in defence, midfield and in the attack where he has led the Wolves scoring this season.

Nusum has helped Wolves to first place and a 7-0 record in the Second Division after leading them to a berth in the FA Cup final a year ago. Wolves have scored 23 goals so far this season.

"He is one of our better talents in Bermuda right now. He is a very level headed person who is heading in the right direction,'' said Best. "Playing soccer is not just about being a good athlete . .. it's about having the right temperament and desire in wanting to succeed.

"If my players get out of this soccer environment in Bermuda at the present time they are going to come back and be better people and then all of us here will benefit. We bring a good person back to society that's going to be able to function well ... and I am also going to get a top class player back.'' Nusum, who currently attends Berkeley, could still be selected for various international cup competitions and tournaments, Best said.

The national coach said Nusum's success would send a message to others who want to make progress in soccer as well as academically.

But he said he would not recommend "just anybody'' for scholarships. "I have a reputation to uphold ... I have to send a person that is decent, respectable (and) knows how to behave themselves on and off the soccer field.'' Best and Charles played together at West Ham in the then English First Division from 1968 to the mid-70s when Charles was transferred to Cardiff City.

Nusum's father, Johnny, played professionally in the old North American Soccer League, and has coached locally with Hamilton Parish and PHC Zebras. He is also a former Bermuda international.

HEADING WEST -- Wolves' ace John Barry Nusum has won a four-year soccer scholarship at the University of Portland.